Gary Rowett admits his approach to naming an unchanged team has changed in his time as Derby County manager.

"I have never really liked to change the team before, I have always liked to keep the same team," said Rowett, who managed Burton Albion and then Birmingham City before he was appointed by the Rams in March last year.

"I think here (at Derby), it is the opposite," Rowett added.

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"I think here you need to mix it up at times, I think we need to get players on the edge a little bit, so they know they have to perform to stay in the team, they know they can't get too relaxed playing six, seven or eight games.

"I know there are certain key areas - the two centre-backs I don't like changing unless they are out of form, the goalkeeper also. I am not going to do that very often but I think we can pick other players for certain games."

Marcus Olsson in action against Brentford (Image: Andy Clarke)

Rowett's team selections have certainly paid dividends over the past five months.

Derby made a stuttering start to the season and a 4-1 defeat by Bristol City at Ashton Gate in mid-September left them with 10 points from seven games and in 15th place.

They have lost only two of their 23 Championship matches since and sit second in the table.

Their latest victory came against Brentford at Pride Park Stadium on Saturday, when goals from Tom Huddlestone, Cameron Jerome and Matej Vydra delivered a 3-0 win.

Rowett made three changes to the team. In came Marcus Olsson, Ikechi Anya and Jerome for Craig Forsyth, Andreas Weimann and David Nugent.

"I felt wide play and crosses into the box was going to be important against Brentford," said Rowett. "I felt Marcus Olsson added bit more of an attacking threat than Fozzy (Craig Forsyth). That's not to say next game I won't put Fozzy back in.